While speculation on how the new kids on the motogp block will do has been getting the majority of press coverage, I think the "old guard" , or what's left of them, will be tough to beat. Rossi will take the title, maybe not as easily as in years past, but easily enough. What has been somewhat surprising to me has been the near-universal lack of regard for Nicky Hayden as a contender. Some of the Euro press don't even mention him (Other than, "oh. yeah, the second rider on the Repsol team is...) in their articles. The American press hasn't been much kinder. What some people fail to remember is that Nicky didn't exactly set the track on fire his first couple of years in AMA Superbike. I think that the Nickster got taken to school a couple of times last season (Phillip Island comes readliy to mind) when he could have done better. I look for Nicky to be a force this year, at least for the "Mamola Cup".